Two children killed in Bajaur blast

Initial investigations reveal that a man entered the store and left a bag inside.

PESHAWAR: Two children were killed in the Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur Agency after a remote controlled bomb detonated at a general store, officials of the Political Administration confirmed on Friday. Eye witnesses said that three people were killed and six injured after a fire engulfed the store.

The owner of the store, Tor Khan was also injured as a result of the explosion.

A security official from the area said that the initial investigation had revealed that a man had entered the store during rush hour and had left a shopping bag inside. He added that there was an explosion immediately after the man left the store.

“There was an explosion and two children were burnt, the shop was almost destroyed,” said the security official.

Eye witnesses said that the man who had left the shopping bag in the store was seen with a remote in his hand and was also arrested. Officials neither confirmed nor denied the arrest.

Three people, including a woman, were shifted to the Agency Headquarter Hospital in Khar. The number of casualties could rise, said officials of the Political Administration.

The people of Salarzai tehsil had raised a lashkar when militancy had started to spread in Bajaur Agency. Militants have also targeted and kidnapped a number of elders from the Salarzai tribe.